Season Greetings and Happy New Year from your Pennsylvania Music Educators Association State Retired Member Coordinator. Best wishes for a happy, healthy, and prosperous 2025!

First, on Christmas Eve, here are a few announcements geared to PA music educators… those who have retired from full-time teaching and anyone considering retirement over the next one to five years.

Back by popular demand (or is that just ego and in my head?), we will offer the session “Retirement 101 – the Who, What, When, Where, Why and How of Retiree Stories & Strategies” on Friday, April 11, 2025 (3:30 p.m.) during the PMEA Annual Conference at the Kalahari Resort in the Poconos. A guest panel of PMEA Retired Members will assist and offer their advice answering key questions like the following:

1. How have you found happiness and success in retirement?
2. What “new” hobbies, volunteer projects, trips, family connections, and encore careers have you been exploring?
3. What did you do to reinvent yourself and how did you satisfy those essential “big three” goals of post-full-time employment: finding purpose, structure, and community?
4. How did you navigate the early phases of retirement? imagination, anticipation, liberation, etc.
5. What were some of the transitional “ups and downs” you experienced and how did you cope with them?
6. What are you still doing in music and education?

We are looking for more PMEA retiree volunteers who are planning to attend the conference to join “expert panelists” Rick Coulter, Jeffrey Dent, Dan Klingbeil, Chuck Neidhardt, Louise Victor, and Rich Victor. (Just email me if you’re interested.)

Retired Members are a valuable resource to PMEA. Many of us already serve on PMEA Councils and in District or State official positions. All of us in the profession benefit from the sharing of their extensive “boots-on-the-ground” experiences and wisdom. At the upcoming conference, Retired Members can serve as Presiding Chairs and introduce a session/concert or two. In addition, plans are also underway to sponsor (possibly on Thursday, April 9) a “coffee & conversation” corner or an “ask the expert” lounge. Spaces and the schedule are packed, but if it is possible, Executive Director Abi Young is trying to fit in an informal sitting area with retirees and mentors as “friendly folks” to serve as “gurus” for PCMEA members, newcomers to a music education specialty, or recent transfers to the field. Won’t you join us?

A longstanding tradition, we will be treated to a PMEA Retired Member Breakfast on Friday morning. (Just check the box on the registration form if you are coming… and, by the way, the conference fee is only $20 for Retired Members! What a deal!)

Why Attend the PMEA Annual Conference?

“For some of us, it’s a just chance to catch-up with our colleagues, see our friends, and socialize. Others are more focused and take advantage of the near-perfect opportunity to network with other professionals, perhaps seeking new working relationships, partnerships, or even employment. Many are on a look-out for newly published music, that perfect music lesson or teaching strategy, technology tools, fund-raisers, advance educational venues, or much-needed equipment to purchase for our ensembles or classrooms. Most come to hear/see the “state of the art” in music education – concerts, demonstrations, keynote speeches, panel discussions, exhibits, research presentations, and workshops. PMEA’s PD Council would likely submit that the primary purpose of a conference is for professional self-improvement… What did Stephen Covey call it? His Habit #7 of “sharpening the saw” – to build a balanced program of self-renewal in the four areas of your life: physical, social/emotional, mental, and spiritual. Covey would insist we embrace “the process that empowers us to move on an upward spiral of growth and change, of continuous improvement.” So, in short, conferences help us “grow” – to revive, re-inspire, re-energize, rejuvenate, re-direct, and re-motivate all of us – pre-service, active in-service, and retired teachers towards making successful new connections, updating our knowledge & skills, and forming new goals.”  – PMEA Retired Member Network eNEWS Winter 2024

In addition, Kalahari Resort boasts “the world’s largest indoor water park,” the perfect place to bring family members to enjoy… especially (grand)children, (grand)nieces/nephews, etc.

One final announcement: In several weeks at this blog-site, we plan to feature a new guest blog entitled “Five Things You Need for a Comfortable Retirement” by Sierra Powell, along with updates of other resources for “living the dream!” See you next year?

OK, What is that “AI Thing?”

This 69-year old educator who has spent more than five decades in fostering creative self-expression in his students is fervently opposed to artificial intelligence. Actually, I thought I was allergic to “AI!” Every time I receive an Apple iPhone update or some new download for my computer, I complain, “Why have they moved that button? It doesn’t look or work the same! Why does everything have to change every month?” Slow down, techies!

However, to dabble in this new technology everyone’s talking about, I printed in my last PMEA Retired Member Network eNEWS on page one a sample article (click here for the Winter issue) compiled by AI Overview (Google). I shared this with an adult violin student from my Saturday orchestra who decided to show me the power of AI (not the old AI I am more familiar with – artistic intelligence!). She used her subscription to a ChatGPT to process my brief outline on the topic “retirement transitioning.” Below is the result generated from a few of my random notes. Created in the first person, AI matched my writing style, a chatty/informal letter printed for soon-to-retire colleagues along with research citations. Frankly, it scares me how close this sounds like something I could have composed! Can you tell it was artificially generated? Does this mean we will we have to teach this old dog (fox) new tricks?

Check out these valuable retirement hints courtesy of ChatGPT!

The Retiree Life: Navigating the Art of Reinvention & Emotional Balance

Here with some reflections, tips, and maybe even a little nudge for us all as we continue this grand adventure called retirement. Whether you’re still finding your rhythm or already feel like a pro at this, there’s always room to reflect, grow, and laugh along the way.

This week, let’s talk about something near and dear to every retiree’s journey: reinventing yourself and coping with the emotional ups and downs that come with this new chapter.

Reinventing Yourself: A Second Act Worth Applauding

Remember when we taught our students to embrace creativity and adapt to change? Turns out, retirement demands the same skills. It’s no longer just about what you did—it’s about who you are.

Reinvention isn’t about completely overhauling your identity. Think of it as expanding your repertoire. Studies show that retirees who actively pursue new interests or roles report higher life satisfaction (Wang et al., 2011). Whether it’s picking up the instrument you haven’t touched in decades, volunteering, traveling, or even starting a small business, the key is to stay engaged.

Here’s a thought experiment: What did you always wish you had time to do but never could because of lesson planning, rehearsals, or concerts? Now’s your chance. I’ve recently heard about retirees dabbling in everything from watercolor painting to writing mystery novels. One retiree even became a beekeeper—talk about a sweet second act!

The Emotional Journey: Ups, Downs, and Everything in Between

Let’s not sugarcoat it: retirement is a mixed bag. There’s the freedom (hooray!), but also the occasional pang of loss—of identity, routine, or the camaraderie we had in our teaching careers.

The good news? You’re not alone. Research by Pinquart and Schindler (2007) highlights how important it is to acknowledge these feelings rather than sweep them under the rug. Adjusting to retirement is a process, and it’s okay to feel a little off-balance at times.

Here are a few tried-and-true strategies to help you navigate the emotional terrain:

• Stay Connected: Loneliness can creep in when you least expect it. Keep up with PMEA activities, or start a retirees’ coffee group. Who better to laugh with about the time your marching band got rained out?
• Practice Mindfulness: Before you roll your eyes, hear me out! Even just five minutes of quiet reflection a day can reduce stress and boost mood (Chopra et al., 2020).
• Find Meaning: Volunteering or mentoring can give you a sense of purpose that’s deeply fulfilling. You’ve got a wealth of wisdom—share it!

The Bottom Line

Retirement isn’t a destination; it’s a journey. And like any good road trip, it comes with unexpected detours, scenic overlooks, and, yes, the occasional pothole. The trick is to embrace it all with curiosity and a sense of humor.

If you’re struggling, remember: reinventing yourself doesn’t happen overnight. Take it one day at a time, and don’t be afraid to reach out for support—whether it’s from family, friends, or your fellow PMEA retirees.

Let’s keep the conversation going. What’s your “second act”? Have you discovered a new hobby or way to cope with the emotional shifts of retirement? Shoot me an email or share your story at our next meeting. Together, we’ll continue to learn, grow, and make this chapter one to remember.

Until next time, keep smiling and stay curious!

References:

Wang, M., Henkens, K., & van Solinge, H. (2011). Retirement adjustment: A review of theoretical and empirical advancements. American Psychologist, 66(3), 204–213.

Pinquart, M., & Schindler, I. (2007). Changes of life satisfaction in the transition to retirement: A latent-class approach. Psychology and Aging, 22(3), 442–455.

Chopra, A., Anthonisen, S., & Reeves, A. (2020). The role of mindfulness in retirement satisfaction. Mindfulness in Aging Journal, 7(4), 312–320.

PKF

© 2024 Paul K. Fox